I don't know if this has been suggested before (sorry, I didn't read everyone's response) but how about you call up the store and ask for a discount and if the store gave you some discount, keep the Day for yourself and treat it with LMB. Then get another one for your mother.
And you did not like Ocean... What about Perriwinkle?
I'm sorry this didn't work out. What a bummer when you're trying to do something nice for your mom and think ahead! I'm with all the folks who say to return it. It sounds like this is just a bad color - maybe the dye does something odd to the leather.
I'll have my fingers crossed that you find a nice bleu glacier (or other blue that you think your mom would like.)
I say ship it back too. Once you've seen what the leather is supposed to feel and look like, you don't want anything less. I'll keep my eye out for you.
I think the Blueberry is a beautiful color (i have one) but it has the tendency to look dry over time. Would applying a leather lotion make a difference?
Definately return that one...It looks like my Ink nightmare...I never got over it and fell totally out of love with anything from 2006 and Barneys - very disappointing